It started in 1878 when Winona Lee Hawthorne became the first woman to earn a degree from the University of Cincinnati. Over the generations that followed, women would eventually come to represent a majority of each year’s cohort of students, individually and collectively preparing to make a big impact as alumnae. We proudly pay them tribute during Women’s History Month.
Our lineage is impressive. From early 20th century sister botanists Annette and Lucy Braun, the first African American College of Medicine graduate Lucy Oxley, M.D. ’36, and civil rights champion Marian Spencer ’42, Hon ’06 to 2020 Summer Olympic Games gold medalists Vanessa Gilles ’18 and Jordan Thompson ’18, ’20 and the thousands of women set to earn degrees next month, UC women continue to leave a lasting impression.
There are many ways to support our current young women on campus. One compelling opportunity is the Women’s Excellence Fund in UC Athletics, which seeks to capitalize on the growing momentum within our women’s programs — especially as we prepare to enter the Big 12 Conference. The fund invests in the critical resources that will help enable our female student-athletes to further excel in competition and in life.
As we continue into our third century, UC will largely build upon the courage, determination and achievement of the women who have written so much of our story over the last 150 years.
Go Bearcats!
